I certainly hope it will not! The Waterview connection is shaping up to be a great success and it filled in a significant gap in the road network. If that applies in other areas than I say build that road.

So the tunnel has been open for a wee while now and schools have been back for about 4 weeks now so thats given me a better indication of how the tunnel has affected my commute.

I drive cross town from Mangere Bridge to Devonport (33km via tunnel, 27 via UR12) 3-4 times per week (i bike the other days) and the tunnel has been fantastic for me both in the car and on my bike journey.

The quickest i have gotten to work when i leave about 0615 has been 28 minutes, and the longest 32 minutes, which is about the fastest i use to get there via Manukau Road (UR12). so on average it has saved me about 5 minutes in the morning.

The return trips has been even better for me. i normally leave at 1500, and the fastest i have gotten home pre tunnel was about 38 minutes, but usually anywhere from about 45-55 minutes. I got home on Monday in 33 minutes which was fantastic, and i seem to be averaging about 38 minutes now, and haven't gone over 40 minutes to get home. most if not all the extra time in the afternoons is getting through school traffic between devonport and takapuna.

For my bike ride home its also meaning traffic is lighter up manukau road which means its a little safer as there are not as many idiots that like to pass closely.

So the tunnel is saving me about 5 minutes in the morning and about 10-12 in the afternoons.

I do have a few frustrations though:people can not for the life of them read signs and get in the correct lane prior to the tunnel. this ends up with them having to chop over 1 or 2 lanes on exiting the tunnelpeople seem happy enough to drive at 85-90 before the tunnel but they get into it and drive at 70. why?people still dont understand no passing in the tunnel or turn your headlights on. its incredibly hard to see a dark vehicle through legally tinted glass when they dont have headlights on.

The quickest i have gotten to work when i leave about 0615 has been 28 minutes, and the longest 32 minutes, which is about the fastest i use to get there via Manukau Road (UR12). so on average it has saved me about 5 minutes in the morning.

28 minutes to the Esmonde Lake turn off haha? Most of my commute is spent on Lake road twiddling my thumbs or boosting the back roads.

I've noticed that, generally, it's easier on SH1 through / to the city. I think a lot of people heading north or south without inner Auckland as a destination are using the new tunnel...and it has eased congestion on 'old' road.

I came over the bridge from Browns Bay last week one weekday morning at 07:30am and it was an easy drive....big gaps in the traffic..... so maybe rather than Greville Rd / Constellation On-Ramp Hell some people were going via the northwestern where they would have formerly had to go over the Harbour Bridge.

Even going from the CBD to Onehunga is altered because you now have the option of going "around the back", up SH16 from the Port, through the tunnel and off SH20 at Queenstown Rd instead of choking on the traffic "furball" at Greenlane or Ellerslie. Waterview makes the back route faster though a bit further. (Google said was the fastest route....and it certainly was on the day).

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Jase2985: I do have a few frustrations though:people can not for the life of them read signs and get in the correct lane prior to the tunnel. this ends up with them having to chop over 1 or 2 lanes on exiting the tunnelpeople seem happy enough to drive at 85-90 before the tunnel but they get into it and drive at 70. why?people still dont understand no passing in the tunnel or turn your headlights on. its incredibly hard to see a dark vehicle through legally tinted glass when they dont have headlights on.

Argh, the tunnel speeds drive me insane, I wouldn't mind if the no passing in the tunnel wasn't a rule, but you get stuck behind someone who wants to marvel at the wonder of a tunnel and you lose any benefit you had from travelling that route in the first place!! I usually try and guess which traffic in the distance looks like a tunnel tourist and pick the lane before tunnel entry.

As for the overall flow, I've noticed a significant improvement on my morning commute, it's broken many cars away from the poor interchange to the southern where everyone is in a bigger rush than you, pulling to the lead and pushing in. During the day, the recovery from snarl ups has improved greatly also, which is appreciated.

The quickest i have gotten to work when i leave about 0615 has been 28 minutes, and the longest 32 minutes, which is about the fastest i use to get there via Manukau Road (UR12). so on average it has saved me about 5 minutes in the morning.

28 minutes to the Esmonde Lake turn off haha? Most of my commute is spent on Lake road twiddling my thumbs or boosting the back roads.

no 28 minutes to devonport

takes 15 minutes to get from devonport to esmonde road in the afternoons

I was in Auckland last week and the taxi driver took me via the tunnel to the CBD .. compared to going via Epsom it was a pleasant enough drive, though it could have been the difference between 7pm vs 11am the last time I was in Auckland

I was in Auckland last week and the taxi driver took me via the tunnel to the CBD .. compared to going via Epsom it was a pleasant enough drive, though it could have been the difference between 7pm vs 11am the last time I was in Auckland

Is it a 2 lanes or 3 lanes in the tunnel?And why no passing?

You can overtake, but you can't change lanes.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

the reason for it is to try and reduce any chance of an accident due to someone changing lanes and hitting someone.

I did the Airport Oaks to Devonport in 41 minutes leaving at 0715 this morning, didnt think it was too bad. The north western was where the time was lost, was moderate to heavy from the south western on ramp.

I was in Auckland last week and the taxi driver took me via the tunnel to the CBD .. compared to going via Epsom it was a pleasant enough drive, though it could have been the difference between 7pm vs 11am the last time I was in Auckland

Is it a 2 lanes or 3 lanes in the tunnel?And why no passing?

It's 3.3km long.

A crash and fire(s) in there could kill more people than the crash itself......They have to plan for the worst-case scenario because there are enough idiots in cars every day trying to create (whether they realise it or not) the worst-case scenario. My current list of suspects is tradies (or pretenders) in over-powered trucks (too big to be utes) and the usual "boy racers" in clapped out cars that used to be worth something (until they bought it and quickly wrecked it)....plus the perrenial entitled folks who think the rest of the world is a stage for them to act out on.

You see at least one of all three groups on any trip through the tunnel. They should be spotted on cameras and their cars taken away for a month after they exit.

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the usual "boy racers" in clapped out cars that used to be worth something (until they bought it and quickly wrecked it)....plus the perrenial entitled folks who think the rest of the world is a stage for them to act out on.

You see at least one of all three groups on any trip through the tunnel. They should be spotted on cameras and their cars taken away for a month after they exit.

Are you referring to clapped out hondas with big bores and mags or people with high performance cars just hearing their engine sing?I used to love going through the Vic park tunnel on the way home from work in my Audi, Had twin 3" stainless straight pipes from the turbos the whole way through. No mufflers cats etc. The sound was good, and better when you'd flip the antilag switch :D (Equal to that of a rally car)Far from "clapped out" thats for sure.

When the beema has a straight pipe I'll be sure to terrorize the tunnel a few times and spill all my carbon all over the Leafs and Prius's.

I was in Auckland last week and the taxi driver took me via the tunnel to the CBD .. compared to going via Epsom it was a pleasant enough drive, though it could have been the difference between 7pm vs 11am the last time I was in Auckland

Is it a 2 lanes or 3 lanes in the tunnel?And why no passing?

You can overtake, but you can't change lanes.

I thought it was rather strange that if you didn't want people to change lanes you would paint the lane lines yellow as in no passing rather than solid white which is just a lane marker here in NZ..